Cubic Yard Calculator
Calculate cubic yards for construction materials, landscaping, and excavation projects with precision for better project planning and cost estimation.
Calculate Your Cubic Yard Calculator
A cubic yard is a unit of volume measurement commonly used in construction, landscaping, and excavation projects. One cubic yard equals 27 cubic feet or approximately 0.76 cubic meters.
How Cubic Yards are Calculated
For rectangular areas, the formula to calculate cubic yards is:
Cubic Yards = (Length × Width × Depth) ÷ 27
For circular areas, the formula is:
Cubic Yards = (π × r² × Depth) ÷ 27
Where r is the radius of the circle (half of the diameter).
Common Uses for Cubic Yard Calculations
- Estimating concrete for foundations, slabs, and footings
- Calculating soil or mulch needs for landscaping projects
- Determining gravel or sand quantities for driveways and pathways
- Planning excavation work for basements and pools
- Measuring fill material for leveling uneven terrain
Benefits of Using a Cubic Yard Calculator
Using a cubic yard calculator ensures you order the right amount of material for your project, which helps:
- Avoid expensive overages and waste
- Prevent delays caused by material shortages
- Accurately budget for materials
- Plan logistics for material delivery and placement
- Compare quotes from suppliers using a standardized measurement
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Frequently Asked Questions
A cubic yard is a unit of volume equal to 27 cubic feet. It represents a volume that measures 3 feet by 3 feet by 3 feet. This unit is commonly used in construction and landscaping for measuring materials like concrete, soil, gravel, and mulch.
For a 10x10 foot slab with 4-inch (0.33 foot) thickness, you would calculate: (10 × 10 × 0.33) ÷ 27 = 1.22 cubic yards. It's always good practice to order about 10% extra concrete to account for spillage and variations in depth, which would be about 1.35 cubic yards.
To convert square feet to cubic yards, you need to know the depth or height of the area. Multiply the square footage by the depth in feet, then divide by 27. For example, if you have 100 square feet with a depth of 6 inches (0.5 feet): (100 × 0.5) ÷ 27 = 1.85 cubic yards.
The weight varies significantly by material:
- Topsoil: approximately 1,080-1,620 pounds per cubic yard
- Gravel or crushed stone: about 2,200-2,700 pounds per cubic yard
- Sand: roughly 2,500-3,000 pounds per cubic yard
- Concrete: around 4,000 pounds per cubic yard
A standard 80-pound bag of concrete mix yields about 0.6 cubic feet of concrete. Since there are 27 cubic feet in a cubic yard, you would need approximately 45 bags (27 ÷ 0.6 = 45) of 80-pound concrete mix to equal one cubic yard.
Yes, it's recommended to order 5-10% more material than your calculated amount. This accounts for variations in site conditions, spillage, waste, and settling that can occur during installation. For concrete specifically, ordering 10% extra is standard practice to avoid the costly problem of running short during a pour.
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